Our mission is to deliver high-quality environmental education and facilitate the sustainable management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources in all places people live, work, and play.

History

Like other "Audubon" organizations, Audubon International takes its name from John James Audubon (1785-1851), the world-renowned ornithologist, naturalist, and artist.

In 1987, the Audubon Society of New York State was born, or perhaps more accurately, reborn. First established nearly 100 years earlier by conservation giants Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Chapman, and John Burroughs, this original Audubon group from New York ceased meeting by the mid-1930s. Nearly five decades later, Ronald G. Dodson re-instated the charter as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit under a broader banner of environmental education and sustainable resource management. Very quickly, the reach of the environmental education and certification programs designed to help further that mission expanded beyond New York.

As a result, in 1996, the organization began doing business as Audubon International to better reflect the true scope of its operations. Audubon International is still incorporated as the Audubon Society of New York State. Although we have no formal affiliation with the National Audubon Society or the other 500-plus Audubon organizations worldwide, we work with and partner with many of these groups to promote common goals.

Through education, technical assistance, certification, and recognition, Audubon International facilitates the implementation of environmental management practices that ensure natural resources are sustainably used and conserved. Several of the organization's longstanding environmental education and certification programs have received national awards. Audubon International is able to positively impact environmental health at multiple geographic scales, including individual properties, communities, and ecoregions.

In fact, throughout its history, Audubon International has enrolled over 3,000 properties (including golf courses, cemeteries, ski areas, housing developments, hotels, and many others) and communities in its rigorous certification programs. The organization has been successful due in large part to its successful relationships with a wide range of interested partners, including small businesses, large corporations, academic institutions, fellow not-for-profits, community associations, local governments, and state and federal agencies. Since 1991, the United States Golf Association (USGA) has served as a strong supporter of Audubon International's sustainability efforts in the golf industry, and this has included providing over $2 million in financial support to offset fees associated with administering the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.